Search results for ""the history press ltd""

In this engaging book, Wendy Hughes takes you on a grand tour of the curious and bizarre, the strange and the unusual from Sussex’s past. Read about the Alfriston Star – the hostelry for medieval package tours with its unusual ship’s figurehead, the Russian memorial to Finnish soldiers, Crazy Jack who couldn’t stop building and who is buried in a pyramid, the inventor of vapour baths and the lady who fooled the army. Along the way you will meet scandalous residents, inventors, and smugglers galore. The A-Z of Curious Sussex is guaranteed to fascinate both resident and visitor alike.

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Bandstands of Britain is a historical celebration of one of the best-loved features still found in many of our parks, open spaces, squares and seaside towns. They are a reminder of a forgotten age of outdoor music and theatre, and act as a lingering memory of the class and sophistication that prevailed in the Victorian era. This book venerates the bandstands in Britain, showcasing the elaborate and iconic pieces of Victorian architecture with beautiful full-colour images, accompanied by a potted history of the evolution and decline of the British bandstand.

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The true nature of the Japanese samurai warrior is an elusive and endlessly fascinating enigma for those in the West. From their inauspicious beginnings as barbarian-subduing soldiers, the samurai lived according to a code known as bushido - or ‘way of the warrior’. Bushido- advocated loyalty, honour, pride and fearlessness in combat. Those who broke the code were expected to perform seppuku, or suicide through stomach-cutting. By its very design, seppuku aimed to restore honour to disgraced warriors by ensuring the most painful of deaths. However, the bushido- virtues of loyalty and honour fell into question as the samurai grew powerful enough to wrest control from the emperor himself. Accompanied by vivid colour illustrations, The Samurai offers a complete, concise account of samurai history and culture. It tells the story of the rise of the samurai as a martial elite, the warriors’ centuries long struggle for power and their long slide into obsolescence.

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Roaming Midsomer is the perfect follow-up to the successful Exploring Midsomer, which enticed lovers of Midsomer Murders and rural England to go and enjoy the beautiful ‘Midsomer’ for themselves. This compilation of interesting and pleasant walks offers plenty to do, see, eat and drink while exploring the area, with each walk based around locations used in the TV series. Most walking books are designed for the serious explorer, but this guide is Sunday afternoon friendly with a simple, modern and easy-to-follow style, including postcodes for all the eating and drinking establishments. Chris Behan and Martin Andrew, both residents of the area for nearly forty years, have used their intimate knowledge of ‘Midsomer’ to create a book that is essential for fans of Midsomer Murders and sure to enchant all those who love these rural locations, steeped as they are in ‘Midsomer’ lore.

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How much can you really find out about the War at Sea during the First World War in five minutes? This handy little history book will surpass all your expectations and leave you well versed on all you wish to know, and maybe even a little bit more… Which was stronger, the German or British navy? What was the biggest battle? Who were the heroes? Who led the navies? And how successful were they? Jam-packed with facts, stats and first-hand accounts of the action, all woven together in an accessible way by an expert in the field, this 5 Minute History is a valuable addition to anyone’s bookshelf, ready to be delved into at a moment’s notice.

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Compiled by paranormal investigator Gregor Stewart, this new book contains a chilling range of spooky tales from around Kirkcaldy. From haunted public houses, which have left both customers and staff terrified, to the ruins of the ancient Ravenscraig Castle, which still attract a mysterious visitor many years after their death, this collection of ghostly goings-on, phantom footsteps and playful poltergeists is sure to appeal to everyone interested in the paranormal and the history of Fife’s largest town. Richly illustrated with over fifty images, Haunted Kirkcaldy is guaranteed to make your blood run cold.

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By August 1918 fortune was on the side of the Allies: America was increasing its contribution of troops and equipment substantially; the morale of the German Army was sinking as it failed to deliver the desired ‘knock out blow’; and Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig found a new confidence, firmly believing that the Allies could at last push the Germans out of France and Belgium. This volume of the best-selling VCs of the First World War series covers the fifty days of the Allied advance from 8 August to 26 September 1918. Arranged chronologically, it tells the story of the sixty-four VC winners during this period. The recipients came from many countries, including Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; some never lived to know that they had been awarded for their extraordinary bravery, while others returned home to face an uncertain future. This is their story.

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Do you remember Pathé News? Taking the train to the seaside? The purple stains of iodine on the knees of boys in short trousers? Knitted bathing costumes? Then the chances are you were born in or around 1950. To the young people of today, the 1950s seem like another age. But for those born around then, this era of childhood feels like yesterday. This delightful collection of photographic memories will appeal to all who grew up in this post-war decade; they include pictures of children enjoying life out on the streets and bombsites, at home and at school, on holiday and at events. These wonderful period pictures and descriptive captions will bring back this decade of childhood, and jog memories about all aspects of life as it was in post-war Britain. Paul Feeney is the author of several bestselling nostalgia books including A 1950s Childhood and A 1960s Childhood (The History Press). He has also written the bestselling From Ration Book to Ebook (The History Press), which takes a nostalgic look back over the life and times of the post-war baby boomer generation.

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The book explores the history of Decca Studios, where thousands of records were made between 1937 and 1980. Klooks Kleek was run next door from 1961 to 1970 in the Railway Hotel by Dick Jordan and Geoff Williams, who share their memories here. With artists including David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Tom Jones and The Moody Blues at Decca, and Ronnie Scott, Cream, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Rod Stewart and Stevie Wonder at Klooks, this book records a unique musical heritage. This is the first history of Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek, the famous R&B club. Containing more than fifty photographs, many of which have never before appeared in print, it will delight music lovers everywhere.

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A Grim Almanac of Cornwall is a day-by-day catalogue of 365 ghastly tales from around the county. Full of dreadful deeds, macabre deaths, strange occurrences and heinous homicides, this almanac explores the darker side of the county's past. Read about the leaders of the 1497 rebellion, who fought for their county only to be hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn; the fatal gunpowder explosion near Truro in 1864; the horrifying case of Henry Mortimer, who killed his wife, four children and himself at Saltash in 1901; the young lady who was attacked by a giant badger while walking near the river Fowey in 1906; and the couple who were drowned on their honeymoon at Falmouth in 1948. All these, plus tales of poachers, cannibals, witches, rioters, plague victims, highwaymen, smugglers, and accidents by land, sea and air, are here. Generously illustrated with a range of engravings, photographs and orginal documents, this chronicle is an entertaining and readable alternative history of Cornwall.

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With over 650 to choose from and hundreds visited, the task of selecting a representative number of historic pubs in Shropshire was far from easy, especially since this perfect embodiment of an English county has so many unique establishments worthy of mention. The search to find the choicest pubs took the author through all of the county's towns and villages, along its rivers, over the rugged hills and along Shropshire's lost and forgotten highways and byways. There were certainly more pubs found that could be put into this book, but sixty of the best were selected as a fair choice. All the pubs represent a particular style, type, or age of establishment and are dispersed throughout the whole county, but above all, they are of the highest standard.Included here are establishments that capture the essence of the wayside inn, the local, riverside mug house, railway and canal pub as well as the increasingly brewery tap house. Suffice it to say the pubs featured in this book are among the best in Shropshire and all certainly have a history and perhaps a tale of the unusual or even the supernatural. They are whole-heartedly recommended to anyone in search of good beer, a warm welcome and a historical setting.

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Can You Play Cricket on Mars? answers questions like: is there a dark side to the Moon? What happens when a comet hits the Sun? Do the Martian canals have any water in them? Is the Moon hot inside? What would happen if the Sun were to collide with a black hole? Mars has polar ice caps: could polar bears live there? If I could go back to the time of the dinosaurs, would the sky look the same as it does today? and many more.

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From reports of haunted castles, pubs, theatres and shopping arcades, to heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, poltergeists and related supernatural phenomena, Ghostly Tyne & Wear investigates thirty of the most haunted locations in Tyne & Wear today. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, this selection includes a phantom highwayman at Blacksmith's Table Restaurant in Washington, a Carry On film legend who haunts the Empire Theatre in Sunderland, a mischievous poltergeist at the the Central Arcade in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as well as sightings of phantom soldiers at Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields. Illustrated with over sixty photographs, together with location and access details for each location, this book is sure to appeal all those interested in finding out more about the area's haunted heritage.

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Serial poisoners, crimes of passion, brutal slayings and infanticide; this new book examines the stories and subsequent trials behind the most infamous cases of British female killers between the early part of the nineteenth century and the 1950s. Among the cases featured here is that of Sarah Dazley, hanged in 1843 for poisoning her second husband; Mary Ann Cotton, who murdered up to twenty-one people, including many members of her own family; Amelia Dyer, the 'baby farmer' who murdered countless numbers of children; Susan Newell, who murdered her newspaper boy; the execution, in 1923 of Edith Thompson for the murder of her husband, a crime she swore she knew nothing about; and, Ruth Ellis, who gunned down her boyfriend outside the Magdala Tavern in 1955, the last woman to lawfully hang in Britain. Retired police detective Paul Heslop has carefully and objectively analysed each of these prominent British cases. His narrative includes post-trial material as well as the executions of the offenders. Finally, he offers his 'verdict', taking into account all the circumstances so that there are times when justice itself is put on trial.

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Elizabeth Longford proves the truth of the old saying that Mother knows best, a theory that is being treated with renewed respect by many of todays experts in child-rearing. She cites from her own experience as the mother of a large family, and quotes from letters which she received from other parents. They are all faced with similar situations: childish fantasies; the problem of good manners and how to enforce them; whether or not one should punish a child, and how; dealing with the spoilt youngest child; and family squabbles. They are not necessarily problems (although some of them are), but points in a familys life on which nearly all parents would welcome some suggestions from others who have had the same experiences. Written in a witty and entertaining style, All in the Family contains an abundance of practical advice that no parent would want to miss.

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The Isle of Sheppey, just 9 miles long and 4 miles wide, is situated in the Thames Estuary at the mouth of the Medway. It is a mysterious and ancient place, separated from the mainland by arm and of the sea known as The Swale. Sheppey, once mainly known fro sheep-rearing as its name implies, falls into two regions - the northern half, built up and developed, which includes the towns of Sheerness, Minster, Queenborough and Leysdown, and the southern part, mainly consisting of marshes and the occasional tiny hamlet. The island itself has a long and complex history. A Bronze Age settlement and a Saxon monastery at Minster both left their mark on the island, as did the Romans - although they did not settle permanently, they had a look-out point here.In later centuries Sheppey has also seen the construction of a naval dockyard at Sheerness, which would have become one to the foremost in the country if it had not flooded during construction, the founding of Britain's first co-operative society, the demolition of a castle that had been designed by the architect of Windsor Castle, the first purpose-built aircraft factory and a recent development as a holiday destination. Sheerness is the most important town today, partly because of tourism, but also because of steel-making and the port - which served the Royal navy until 1960, and since then has become one the largest and fastest expanding ports in the UK.Lavishly illustrated with over 150 images, The Story of Sheppey - informative, entertaining and thought-provoking - will appeal to everyone who lives on or visits the island.

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Man and Horse is a magisterial history of the mounted warrior and the relationship with his steed. Andrew Sinclair takes as his inspiration Walter Prescott Webb’s seminal work, The Great Plains. The horse until very recently has been the decisive factor in determining military success. Great exponents of the art of equestrian warfare include, Alexander the Great, Hannibal, King Arthur, Saladin, the Knights of the Templar, the Reivers of the Scottish Borders, the Mongols, North American Indians, the Confederate forces during the American Civil War and the Boers. Sinclair also explores the uses of the horse by highwaymen and figures such as Ned Kelly. Andrew Sinclair brilliantly shows that the art of warfare from horseback with its culture of mobility has always been at conflict with the urban domesticated culture. This tension has created much of the great art and culture of humankind. This is a hugely ambitious and exhilarating book that cannot fail to enthral and stimulate.

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Among the 50 historic cinemas featured are the Finsbury Park Astoria, the Maida Vale Picture House, the Shepherds Bush Pavilion, the West Ealing Kinema, the Woolwich Granada and Kilburn's Gaumont State. Illustrated with 100 images, this well-researched and informative volume will delight all those who have fond memories of visiting some of London's long-since vanished cinemas, as well as those that still remain in some form or another.

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A Century of Wolverhampton offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during a century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Wolverhampton's recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. A Century of Wolverhampton provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered the city's appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Wolverhampton has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century.

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A Century of Oxford offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during a century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Oxford's recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. A Century of Oxford provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered the town's appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Oxford has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century.

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A Century of Lewisham offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during a century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Lewisham's recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. A Century of Lewisham provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered the city's appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Lewisham has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century.

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This fascinating selection of photographs illustrates the extraordinary transformation that has taken place in Bexley during the 20th century. The book offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during this century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Bexley’s recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. The book provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered Bexley’s appearance and records the process of transformation.Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Bexley has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this century.

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This fascinating selection of photographs illustrates the extraordinary transformation that has taken place in Glasgow during the 20th century. The book offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during this century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Glasgow's recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. The books provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered Glasgow's appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Glasgow has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century.

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Winchester, ancient capital of Wessex, is a crucial part of Britain's heritage. In his latest book, David Hilliam condenses the city's long and fascinating history into a collection of memorable 'curiosities' that are still to be seen today. Visitors - and even residents - frequently walk by some of these age-old fragments of the past without fully realising just what they are, or how they relate to Winchester's memorable past. For more than two thousand years Winchester has been one of the most important cities in Britain: important for William the Conqueror, who built his first castle here; for the Saxons, who buried their kings here; for the Romans, who first laid out its streets - still used by twenty-first century traffic; and for the Celtic tribe the Belgae, who traded in Winchester and thus provided its ancient name - Venta Belgarum - 'market-place of the Belgae.' Winchester Curiosities is an intriguing collection of historical facts and legendary tales, together with a wealth of photographs, old engravings and specially commissioned drawings. Also included is useful information for visitors, as well as essential websites for the armchair traveller.

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Notions of what is scandalous vary from age to age, but our fascination with all things outrageous remains the same. Whether the sexual disgraces of the Victorian era or the political outrages of modern times, the shocking and the immoral never cease to cause a stir among the masses. Bestselling partnership Ed Rayner and Ron Stapley return with their latest collection of fascinating historical facts, this time about weird and wonderful scandals throughout the ages. From the sexual scandals of the Victorian music halls, the trial of Oscar Wilde and the adventures of Ned Kelly to the hanging of Ruth Ellis and even the shooting of Tony Martin, this book is a must for all those interested in the history of scandal.

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On 10 May 1941, Rudolf Hess - Deputy Fuhrer of the Third Reich - embarked on his astonishing flight from Augsburg to Scotland. At dusk the same day, he parachuted on to a Scottish moor and was taken into custody. His arrival provoked widespread curiosity and speculation, which has continued to this day. Why did Hess fly to Scotland? Had Hitler authorized him to attempt to negotiate peace? Was British Intelligence involved? What was his state of mind at the time? Drawing on a variety of reliable archive and eyewitness sources in Britain, Germany and the USA, authors Roy Conyers Nesbit and Georges van Acker have written what must be the most objective assessment of the Hess' story yet to be published. Their compelling narrative not only dispels many of the extraordinary conspiracy theories, but also uncovers some intriguing new facts.

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Here is the unique story of the RAF's Avro Lancaster bomber. Peter R. March covers the Lancaster's genesis, first flight and flight testing; its part in the bomber offensive during the Second World War and how this iconic aircraft lives on in the 21st Century, with a listing of surviving Lancasters and where to see them. The text is supported by a comprehensive selection of colour and black and white photographs.

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Contains 100 historic sites in County Durham and Teesside - not necessarily the most obvious or the well-known tourist traps, but those accessible to the public. This work covers from landscape features to obscure villages, and from remnants of forgotten industries to surprising buildings.

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Thomas Telford, the son of a shepherd, was born in Westerkirk, Scotland in 1757. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to a stonemason. He worked for a time in Edinburgh and in 1792, he moved to London where he was involved in building additions to Somerset House. Two years later, he found work at Portsmouth dockyard. In 1787, he became surveyor of public works for Shropshire. By this time, Telford had established a good reputation as an engineer and in 1790 was given the task of building a bridge over the River Severn at Montford. This was followed by a canal that linked the ironworks and collieries of Wrexham with Chester and Shrewsbury. This involved building an aqueduct over the River Dee. On the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Telford used a new method of construction consisting of troughs made from cast-iron plates and fixed in masonry.After the completion of the Ellesmere Canal Telford moved back to Scotland where he took control of the building of Caledonian Canal. Other works by Telford include the Menai Suspension Bridge (1819-1826) and the Katherine's Docks (1824-1828) in London. Telford was also an important road builder. He was responsible for rebuilding the Shrewsbury to Holyhead road and the North Wales coast road between Chester and Bangor. During his life, Telford built more than 1,000 miles of road, including the main road between London and Holyhead. Thomas Telford died in 1834.

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Iwo Jima was the United States Marine Corps' toughest ever battle and a turning point in the Pacific War. In February 1945, three Marine Divisions stormed the island's shores in what was supposed to be a ten-day battle, but they had reckoned without General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the enemy commander.

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Bill Bellamy was a young officer in the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars from 1943 to 1955. He served in 7th Armoured Division in the North West Europe campaign, landing in Normandy on D+3, fought throughout the Battle for Normandy and into the Low Countries as a troop leader in Cromwell tanks, and was latterly a member of the initial occupying force in Berlin in May 1945. Against the rules, Bill kept diaries and notes of his experiences. His account is fresh and open, and his descriptions of battle are vivid. He witnessed many of his contemporaries killed in action, and this life-altering experience clearly informs his narrative. The accounts of tank fighting in the leafy Normandy bocage in the height of summer, or in the iron hard fields of Holland in winter, are graphic and compelling.

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Forty years ago Alf Townsend passed The Knowledge - after 14,000 miles on a moped round central London. Since then he has covered millions of miles in his taxi. This book includes a selection of his extraordinary and hilarious tales of everyday life as a cabbie, in which we meet Mr Whippy and Violent Pete, Bread Roll Mick and the Motorway Mouse, Claude the Bastard and the mysterious Mr X. Alf also examines the history of cab-driving in the capital - including the variety of taxis that have been used - and even tries to shed some light on the most ancient and obscure Hackney Carriage laws that are still on the statute book. (Do you know why a taxi is so tall? So a passenger can get on board wearing a top hat: it's true...) Concluding with a look at the seamy side of night work, the rise and rise of the mini-cab, and what the future may hold for the London cabbie, Alf Townsend's book will be entertaining reading for all Londoners, and anyone else who has travelled in the back of a black cab.

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The murder cases in this book are a mixture of classic narratives of jealousy, elimination and passion, now retold from new perspectives and with more research. The author also includes some little-known mysteries: three unsolved homicides from across the county, including the killing of the 'Barton recluse' and the enigmatic death of a young farmer in Gedney in which the dead man's dog appeared in court. In this chronicle of violent deaths and courtroom struggles the reader will find a new slant on some of the principal cases, with plenty of social and legal history added to enrich the stories. Lincolnshire Murders is a powerful and fascinating reappraisal of some of the most brutal and gruesome killings in the county's history.

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John Stow first published his "Survey of London" in 1598 during the reign of Elizabeth I. His detailed description of the city and its suburbs was an immediate success when it first appeared and has remained a popular classic of English history ever since.

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Why and how does religion fuel fighting, death and destruction? This is the central question addressed here. This book examines the history of religious violence, looking at patterns and causes, consistencies and aberrations. It also looks at the relationship between religion and politics.

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For several years chapels have been at the heart of Black Country life. A follow-up to "Black Country Chapels", this illustrated book provides an account not only of the buildings themselves, but also of the active social life that surrounded them. It is useful to those born and brought up in the Black Country.

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Catherine Rothwell's new book takes us on a walk along the Kent, from source to sea, drawing on many interviews with local characters, which are interwoven with a blend of recollections, nostalgia and history.

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During the First World War, a rich crop of legends sprouted from the battlefields and grew with such ferocity that many still excite controversy today. This book is the first to examine the roots of those stories and reveal the truth. Some myths remain well-known. Did an entire battalion of the Norfolk Regiment vanish without trace at Gallipoli in 1915? Did thousands of Russian troops actually pass through England with snow on their boots? In 1914, an acute spy mania gripped the British public, who imagined that the country was brimming with German spies. Xenophobia, denunciations and attacks on dachshunds were rampant. Amazingly, there was even talk of enemy aircraft dropping poisoned sweets to kill British children. Myths such as the Angel of Mons and the Comrade in White were more innocent creations. With no radio or television, rumours of disaster were rife, and the apparition of mystical guardian spirits gave hope to the civilian population at home. Other stories, such as the so-called Crucified Canadian, and the existence of a gruesome German corpse rendering factory, were more sinister. Yet in an age of new and startling technologies such as poison gas, submarine warfare and the tank, such tales appeared believable. Using a wide range of contemporary sources, James Hayward traces the story of each myth and examines the likely explanation. Supported by a selection of rare photographs and illustrations, the result is a refreshingly different perspective on the common ‘mud and trenches’ view of the First World War, shedding fascinating new light on many curious and unexplained wartime tales.

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This dictionary of Derbyshire place-names, their origins and meanings, includes districts, towns, villages, hamlets, together with notable buildings, as well as countryside features - such as fields, rivers, streams, hills and woods.

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This fascinating selection of photographs illustrates the changes which have occurred in Ipswich. The town has experiences an enormous amount of development to keep up with its growing population. Attractive buildings, some centuries old, were swept away as part of redevelopments in the 1950s and '60s to be replaced with ugly concrete structures. The contrasting photographs remind us of what has been lost forever. Also included are images of the Wet Dock. Its Victorian planners could never have foreseen the change of its use to leisure and residential.Included are old photographs of the dock, some dating back more than one hundred years, contrasted with new pictures of the same scenes today. Photographer and writer David Kindred has toured the town and re-photographed, as closely as possible, the scenes taken by his predecessors decades before.

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Although it is only half an hour from Leeds and Bradford, Ilkley has retained its smell-town atmosphere. Referred to in the Domesday Book, it was a small argricultural village for centuries; all this changed when the potential of the local waters was realised in the nineteenth century, and Ilkley became known as a spa. The hydros developed and became hotels as the town matured into a tourist attraction and a commuter base for the industrial centres of Leeds and Bradford. In this book Alex Cockshott and Denise Shillitoe compare 150 old photographs with the scene today, bringing Ilkley's fascinating history to life. Ilkley Past & Present will be an essential for visitors and residents alike.

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Elizabeth Woodville is a historical character whose life no novelist would ever have dared invent. She has been portrayed as an enchantress, as an unprincipled advancer of her family's fortunes and a plucky but pitiful queen in Shakespeare's histories. She has been alternatively championed and vilified by her contemporaries and five centuries of historians, dramatists and novelists, but what was she really like? In this revealing account of Elizabeth's life David Baldwin sets out to tell the story of this complex and intriguing woman. Was she the malign influence many of her critics held her to be? Was she a sorceress who bewitched Edward IV? What was the fate of her two sons, the 'Princes in the Tower'? What did she, of all people, think had become of them, and why did Richard III mount a campaign of vilification against her? David Baldwin traces Elizabeth's career and her influence on the major events of her husband Edward IV's reign, and in doing so he brings to life the personal and domestic politics of Yorkist England and the elaborate ritual of court life.

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Milton Keynes has been designated one of the four potential growth areas in the south-east of England. There are plans to build up to 70,000 new homes in the city before 2031, and also develop transport infrastructure. Here, Robert Cook examines the history of Milton Keynes so far, and also explores surrounding towns and villages.

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No crime in the twentieth century has so deeply shocked mankind as the Holocaust. And none has so stubbornly resisted every attempt to explain it. More than six million people were murdered, and countless more endured horrific suffering. Guido Knopp's disturbing account is the most complete history of the Holocaust to date.It reveals the appalling truth using the most recent historical research, including minutes of daily briefings by Joseph Goebbels, private papers of the SS Einsatzgruppen in charge of mass murder, and East German State Security documents detailing the deportation of Jews. The book relives the agony of the victims and investigates the motives of the perpetrators. Survivors talk for the first time about their horrifying torture and their eventual escape from Nazi persecution. The persecutors now at last confront the atrocities they committed.This is not an attempt to rewrite the history of the Holocaust, but a searing account of the greatest crime of the twentieth century - if not of all time - using the latest research on the subject.

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Searching the archives of the university, the Public Record Office, the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies, this work collects more than 100 accounts that paint a picture of Oxford's seedier side. Using court records and newspaper accounts, it brings together crime stories dating from 1750 to 1920, including: infamous murders, hangings, and more.

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From Caligula to Stalin and beyond, this book offers a unique and pioneering look at the recurring phenomenon of the 'mad king' from the early centuries of the Christian era to modern times.

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During the latter part of the eighteenth century West Bromwich was mainly rural and sparsely populated. The area currently occupied by the High Street from Dartmouth Square to Carters Green was then little more than open heathland, giving no indication of the premier shopping centre it was later to become. The famous ‘Golden Mile’ High Street that evolved around 150 years ago has changed in character quite dramatically within living memory, as indeed have many of the surrounding districts of the town. Most people will have treasured memories of long-gone delights such as Trow’s Ice-Cream parlour, Chad’s Fish & Chips, the Adelphi Ballroom and, of course, the luxurious Tower Cinema with its double seats – specially designed for courting couples. These changes and the social activities of local people in all parts of the borough during the last century are nostalgically recalled here in a collection of over 300 photographs compiled by West Bromwich-born author and historian Terry Price, with the majority of the material originating from his own and other private collections.

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This is the story behind one of the greatest bust-ups in sport. After more than a decade together David Beckham and Alex Ferguson went their separate ways when England's superstar footballer was transferred to Real Madrid. But how and why did football's most famous relationship fall apart?

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